Petunia plant named &#39;USTUNJ2401&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Petunia  plant named ‘USTUNJ2401’, characterized by its compact, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; freely branching habit; vigorous growth habit; early and freely flowering habit; relatively small white-colored flowers with a distinct and stable red purple star-shaped color pattern; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia×hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘USTUNJ2401’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant, botanically known as Petunia×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘USTUNJ2401’.

The new Petunia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and Bonsall, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching and uniformly mounding Petunia plants with early and freely flowering habit, unique attractive flowers and good garden performance.

The new Petunia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on Jun. 16, 2012 in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan of Petunia×hybrida ‘USTUN34803’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,884, as the female, or seed, parent with an unnamed selection of Petunia×hybrida, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Petunia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. on May 31, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, California since Jun. 3, 2013 has shown that the unique features of this new Petunia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘USTUNJ2401’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘USTUNJ2401’ as a new and distinct Petunia plant:

-   -   1. Compact, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Vigorous growth habit.     -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   5. Relatively small white-colored flowers with a distinct and         stable red purple star-shaped color pattern.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘USTUN34803’. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of ‘USTUN34803’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more mounding than and not as         creeping as plants of ‘USTUN34803’.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘USTUN34803’ differ in flower         color as plants of ‘USTUN34803’ have solid red purple-colored         flowers.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more mounding than and not as         upright as plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia have smaller flowers than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Petunia and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have pink-colored flowers with a purple star-shaped color         pattern.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of ‘USTUN19603’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,675. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differed primarily from plants of ‘USTUN19603’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia were more mounding than and not as         creeping as plants of ‘USTUN19603’.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia flowered earlier than plants of         ‘USTUN19603’.     -   3. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘USTUN19603’ differed in flower         color as plants of ‘USTUN19603’ had bright pink-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Petunia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Petunia plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘USTUNJ2401’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘USTUNJ2401’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in 10-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Bonsall, Calif. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 34° C., night temperatures ranged from 9° C. to 18° C. and light levels ranged from 7,000 to 10,000. Plants were pinched one time and were 8.5 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia×hybrida ‘USTUNJ2401’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Petunia×hybrida ‘USTUN34,803’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,884.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed selection of             Petunia×hybrida, not patented -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 15 days             at temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 20 days             at temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in             color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,             substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, outwardly spreading and             mounding plant habit; freely branching habit with about 16             primary lateral branches with multiple secondary lateral             branches developing per plant; dense and bushy appearance;             pinching enhances development of lateral branches; vigorous             growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 14.5 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 31 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 19 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Internode length: About 1.6 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect:             Initially upright then outwardly spreading. Texture:             Pubescent, minute. Luster: Matte. Color: Close to 146A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate before flowering; opposite after             flowers develop; leaves simple.         -   Length.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent, minute.         -   Luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A; venation,             close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 146A; venation, close to 146B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Strength: Strong. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Pubescent, minute. Luster, upper and lower surfaces: Matte.             Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single axillary salverform             flowers; flowers face mostly upward to outwardly; freely             flowering habit with about 21 flower buds and open flowers             per lateral branch and more than 400 flowers developing per             plant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long day responsive; long             flowering period, plants flower from early spring until             frost in the autumn, flowering continuous during this             period; early flowering habit, plants begin flowering about             six weeks after planting.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About four to five days;             flowers persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm.             Shape: Oblong, elongate. Color: Close to 155A.         -   Flower diameter.—Relatively small, about 2.7 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 3 cm.         -   Throat diameter, distal.—About 8 mm.         -   Tube length.—About 2.2 cm.         -   Tube diameter, proximal.—About 3 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals fused in a             single salverform whorl. Petal lobe length (from throat):             About 1.2 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.5 cm. Petal lobe             shape: Fan-shaped. Petal lobe apex: Broadly acute             occasionally with a point. Petal lobe margin: Entire,             slightly sinuate. Petal lobe texture, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous; velvety. Petal lobe texture, lower surface:             Pubescent, minute. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube             texture: Pubescent, minute. Color: When opening, upper             surface: Ground color, close to NN155C; star-shaped pattern,             close to 71A. When opening, lower surface: Close to N155D.             Fully opened, upper surface: Ground color, close to NN155D;             star-shaped pattern, close to 71B tinted with close to 72C             to 72D; mid-vein, close to 71B and lateral veins, close to             72D; color does not fade with development. Fully opened,             lower surface: Close to NN155C tinted with close to 73D;             venation, close to 148A; color does not fade with             development. Flower throat (inside): Close to N186D;             venation, close to 187A. Flower tube (outside): Close to             187C; venation, close to 148A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals fused in a             single star-shaped whorl. Length: About 1.1 cm. Width: About             2 mm. Shape: Lanceolate; reflexed. Apex: Rounded. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent;             minute. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.7 cm. Width: About 1.5 mm.             Strength: Strong. Angle: About 45° to 55° from the stem             axis. Texture: Pubescent; minute. Luster: Matte. Color:             Close to 146C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.             Filament length: About 1.2 cm. Filament color: Close to             145D. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther shape: Round. Anther             color: Close to 152A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color:             Close to 202C. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil             length: About 1.8 cm. Style length: About 1.6 cm. Style             color: Close to 145D. Stigma shape: Round. Stigma color:             Close to 148A. Ovary color: Close to 144B.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development has not been             observed on plants of the new Petunia. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Petunia have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Petunia     plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to     have good garden performance and have been observed to tolerate     rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about 3.5° C. to about 43°     C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘USTUNJ2401’ as illustrated and described. 